ADHD in the News 2019-02-21

Animal study suggests Ritalin won’t harm the heart

Following concerns around children's heart health when taking ADHD drugs, such as Ritalin, a recent animal study suggests that there is likely no risk of heart damage...The study was funded by the US National Institutes of Health. It was recently published in the journal Pediatric Research.

Children with autism, co-occurring ADHD symptoms lag in key measures of independence

A pair of new studies has provided new insight into the challenges faced by children on the autism spectrum who exhibit symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). According to the findings from researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), these children have difficulty with adaptive behavior, a key measure of independence. Additionally, researchers pinpointed weaker functional connections in two large brain networks in children on the autism spectrum who have co-occurring ADHD symptoms.

ADHD: Parenting Beyond Behavior, Beliefs, and Grades

So, when we consider parenting children with ADHD, it’s important to look beyond actions, executive functions, and what they are doing. It is deeply important to discover, uncover, and support who they are and who they are becoming. Here are some ideas to help this process:

Smoking and drinking is all in the genes

A mammoth new study using data from 1.2 million people has been published in the journal Nature Genetics. It has been compiled by different research groups around the world..."The study group that was genetically predisposed to smoking was also genetically predisposed to a number of health problems, including obesity, diabetes, ADHD and various mental illnesses, whereas a genetic risk for alcohol was associated with lower disease risk," Professor Hveem explained.

Neuroscientist probes sleep’s role in learning and memory

Does "sleeping on it" help us make better decisions? Are sleep disorders just a natural part of aging? How important are naps, anyhow? Rebecca Spencer, Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and director of the UMass Amherst Sleep Monitoring Lab is finding answers to these questions.

Why Teens Abuse ADHD Medication

Many teenagers do not want to run the risk of being caught with or buying methamphetamines. Therefore, teenagers have found a way around the risk, medications for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)...During finals, I hear many teenagers talk about taking Concerta or other ADHD drugs so they have the energy to study.

Quebec doctors want more exercise, less screen time for ADHD students

After recently warning of the dangers of the overuse of medication to treat children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a group of Quebec pediatricians is now proposing a different prescription — less time on smartphones and playing video games.